User Identifier Multiplexing By Time Division

Abstract

A network assigns to a first user equipment UE and to a second UE a same temporary identifier for use at least while the first and the second UEs are simultaneously in a connected state in a same cell. Individual control channel transmissions utilizing the temporary identifier are selectively associated to only one of the first and the second UEs according to a predetermined time domain division. In various embodiments the time domain division comprises discontinuous reception DRX periods having mutually exclusive reception time periods; or mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups assigned to the first and second UEs for at least downlink control channel transmissions. Such radio frame/subframe groups may be even and odd numbered, or may be given by any of various example formulas if there are two or more UEs sharing the same temporary identifier. For an LTE system such an identifier may be the C-RNTI.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processing system comprising at least one processor, and a memory storing a set of computer instructions;   
       in which the processing system is arranged to:
 assign to a first user equipment and to a second user equipment a same temporary identifier for use at least while the first and the second user equipments are simultaneously in a connected state in a same cell; and 
 selectively associate individual control channel transmissions utilizing the temporary identifier to only one of the first and the second user equipments according to a predetermined time domain division. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the predetermined time domain division comprises discontinuous reception periods assigned to the first and to the second user equipments which have mutually exclusive reception time periods. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the predetermined time domain division comprises mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups assigned to the first and second user equipments for at least downlink control channel transmissions. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , in which the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are even and odd numbered radio frame or subframe groups. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , in which each of the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are given by the formula:
   Group —   id =(10*SFN+subFN+offset) mod  X;      in which SFN is a system frame number; subFN is a subframe number; offset is a timing offset between a control channel and a data channel; and X is an integer greater than one.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , in which each of the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are given by the formula:
   Group —   id =(SFN div GS) mod GN;   in which SFN is a system frame number; GS is a group size; and GN is a number of groups.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , in which each of the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are given by the formula:
   Group —   id =((SN*SFN+subFN+offset) div GS) mod GN;   in which SFN is a system frame number; subFN is a subframe number; offset is a timing offset between a control channel and a data channel; GS is a group size; and GN is a number of groups.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the apparatus comprises a network access node. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , in which the network access node comprises an eNodeB operating in an E-UTRAN system and the same temporary identifier is a same C-RNTI. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 assigning to a first user equipment and to a second user equipment a same temporary identifier for use at least while the first and the second user equipments are simultaneously in a connected state in a same cell; and   selectively associating individual control channel transmissions utilizing the temporary identifier to only one of the first and the second user equipments according to a predetermined time domain division.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , in which the predetermined time domain division comprises mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups assigned to the first and second user equipments for at least downlink control channel transmissions. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , in which the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are even and odd numbered radio frame or subframe groups. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , in which each of the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are given by the formula:
   Group —   id =(10*SFN+subFN+offset) mod  X;      in which SFN is a system frame number; subFN is a subframe number; offset is a timing offset between a control channel and a data channel; and X is an integer greater than one.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , in which each of the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are given by the formula:
   Group —   id =(SFN div GS) mod GN;   in which SFN is a system frame number; GS is a group size; and GN is a number of groups.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , in which each of the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are given by the formula:
   Group —   id =((SN*SFN+subFN+offset) div GS) mod GN;   in which SFN is a system frame number; subFN is a subframe number; offset is a timing offset between a control channel and a data channel; GS is a group size; and GN is a number of groups.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , in which the method is executed by a network access node. 
     
     
         17 . A computer readable memory storing a computer program comprising:
 code for assigning to a first user equipment and to a second user equipment a same temporary identifier for use at least while the first and the second user equipments are simultaneously in a connected state in a same cell; and   code for selectively associating individual control channel transmissions utilizing the temporary identifier to only one of the first and the second user equipments according to a predetermined time domain division.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable memory according to  claim 17 , in which the predetermined time domain division comprises mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups assigned to the first and second user equipments for at least downlink control channel transmissions. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable memory according to  claim 18 , in which the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are even and odd numbered radio frame or subframe groups. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable memory according to  claim 18 , in which each of the mutually exclusive radio frame or subframe groups are given by one of:
   the formula Group —   id =(10*SFN+subFN+offset) mod  X ; or     the formula Group —   id =(SFN div GS) mod GN; or     the formula Group —   id =((SN*SFN+subFN+offset) div GS) mod GN;   in which SFN is a system frame number; subFN is a subframe number; offset is a timing offset between a control channel and a data channel; X is an integer greater than one; GS is a group size; and GN is a number of groups.